Cornwall planning: New lease of life for town's 1970s eyesore
Plans to give a new lease of life to an ugly and empty town centre building and replace one ruined by vandals and fire are among the latest planning applications submitted to Cornwall Council.
Every week more than 100 applications are validated by Cornwall Council and we have selected some of the more interesting proposals. All planning applications submitted to the council have to be validated and are available for inspection by the public. Anyone is also allowed to submit comments about the applications - whether in support or objection.
The majority of applications are decided by planning officers at the council under delegated powers. However, some applications will go before elected councillors who sit on planning committees. No dates have been set for when the planning applications below will be determined. They can be viewed by going to the planning portal on Cornwall Council’s website.
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New lease of life for town's 1970s eyesore
Penzance Regeneration Company (PZRC) has applied to give a new lease of life to a 1970s eyesore in the heart of the town. It wants to retrofit the unoccupied building at 28-30 Market Place to deliver a ground floor retail space with eight flats on the first and second floors.
The building, at the bottom of Causewayhead, has been empty for five years and is in deteriorating condition. It is within the Penzance Conservation Area, in the Historic Town Centre Character Area.
For more details see PA24/06493.
Replace building hit by vandalism and fire with new houses
Cunningham Developments is seeking pre-application advice to replace a building known as Haynes Heights in Camborne with three town houses and three flats.
The pre-app states that development to create eight flats in the property at 12 Rosewarne Road was nearing completion when it was destroyed by vandalism and a "devastating fire instigated by local disturbances". This resulted in significant damage, compelling the owner to reassess the design and architectural approach for the site.
Each of the three townhouses will feature four bedrooms and two outdoor spaces, designed to enhance the living experience for families. The apartments will overlook a private courtyard, providing residents with their own private gardens. To promote "sustainability and enhance the architectural appeal", the applicant will introduce a green wall design "integrating nature into the urban landscape and promoting biodiversity".
The demolition of the existing building would be necessary.
For more details see PA24/01080/PREAPP.
Convert church into apartments
Lanteglos By Fowey Parochial Church Council has applied to convert St Saviours Church, Fore Street, Polruan into a maximum of four apartments.
While the property is not listed, it does represent a historic building within the Conservation Area with both historic and cultural interest and as such the building is considered to be a Non-Designated Heritage Asset.
A pre-application submission in November 2022 led to the council suggesting the applicant should explore a community reuse of the building before considering residential use.
Lillicrap Chilcott Estate Agents was then asked to market the building as a community asset for offers in the region of £250,000. While there was interest in the property, which culminated in an unconditional to purchase on September 2023, the offer was subsequently withdrawn and no further offers have been received.
For more information see PA24/07170.
Changes to the front of the Royal Cornwall Museum
The council will consider plans to reconfigure the garden and frontage, including pedestrian access improvements and teaching areas, at the Royal Cornwall Museum, River Street, Truro.
Listed building consent is being sought for a proposal which "will create a sense of excitement and inspire potential visitors to step inside and explore the museum". This would include linking the museum’s archive and exhibitions to exterior features/sculptures, and creating a meeting place/space for people to gather and wait. The current boundary doesn’t allow for interaction nor feels very friendly or welcoming, says the application.
For more information see PA24/07151.
New family homes
Applicant Jon Manser has applied for outline planning permission for five new long-term residential units including three family homes and two single bedroom apartments in a field near Gwel An Golowji, Lower Boscaswell, Pendeen.
The proposed development includes one four-bedroom house which is intended as a family home for the applicant and the other four units will then be for long-term let; two three-bedroom family homes and two one-bedroom starter apartments for local individuals/couples.
Mr Manser's vision is to ensure that this new privately developed housing should be solely for long-term occupancy rental homes for local families.
For more information see PA24/04171.
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